Chassis Steel

[MoysieWRX]

Hi Guys, Not sure if something like this has been asked before, tried searching for a while and cant find anything.

contacted my local Steel supplier for the 25mm ERW and 19mm ERW square. They replied that they do 25.4mm and that they dont have any 19mm.

Looking from advice from you guys as you'll have a better idea through experience of your builds. My question is, could i use the 25.4mm for the whole chassis or do you guys see me running into problems?
Will this have a big impact on the chassis construction? :confused:
Obviously there will be a slight weight increase.
Do you think i may be better trying somewhere else or try to get a smaller size?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Itching to get my steel ordered :D

[trick-kit]

If they keep 1" (25.4)have you asked if they keep 3/4" (19.05)?

If they don't then they are a pretty poor supplier :confused:

Keep the dimensions for the outside measurements to the book and keep the changes inboard and you'll be fine.

TK

[MoysieWRX]

If they keep 1" (25.4)have you asked if they keep 3/4" (19.05)?

If they don't then they are a pretty poor supplier :confused:

Keep the dimensions for the outside measurements to the book and keep the changes inboard and you'll be fine.

TK

Haven't had a reply from them yet about the 3/4", may phone tomorow.

Yes, was planning to keep the overall size the same as the book, was just wondering if using the 1" instead of 19mm would cause any construction problems or issues with installing parts after the chassis is complete.

[Talonmotorsport]

Steel is not like autocad it's made to permissible tolerances not absolute sizes. when you ask a steel stockist you need to ask for 25mm or 1" and they'll see what they have in stock on the database your only talking to an office worker not the guy in the ware house some times they will have 3 ton of 1" x 16 gauge and no 25mm x 1.5 box. Also if you just ask for 'box section' you will get HRC/HRS or 'black' which will be 2.5mm thick, what you want is ERW which is a better quality material and has square sides to work with. Otherwise it's like walking into B&Q and asking for paint...

[MoysieWRX]

Steel is not like autocad it's made to permissible tolerances not absolute sizes. when you ask a steel stockist you need to ask for 25mm or 1" and they'll see what they have in stock on the database your only talking to an office worker not the guy in the ware house some times they will have 3 ton of 1" x 16 gauge and no 25mm x 1.5 box. Also if you just ask for 'box section' you will get HRC/HRS or 'black' which will be 2.5mm thick, what you want is ERW which is a better quality material and has square sides to work with. Otherwise it's like walking into B&Q and asking for paint...

Hi Talon,
I had specified that i was looking for the specific sizes (25mm and 19mm) in ERW. They come back saying they had the 1" instead of 25mm but stated they dont have 19mm, so presumed they dont have 3/4" although i did send them another email to gain clarity.
If i dont get a reply back by a little later on today, i will probably phone them up. So will see what they come back with.

In the meant time, im looking at the posibility of using the 1" instead of 19mm. In your experience, can you think of any areas where i may hit difficulties either in constructing the chassis, or in fitting the parts in?
or do you think i should try somewhere else to get the 19mm?

Would like to get my steel ordered up soon.

[Talonmotorsport]

Who are you trying to buy from?

[MoysieWRX]

Who are you trying to buy from?

ASD Metal services

[voucht]

Don't know about the 25.4mm, but here, 19mm were not available either, and more expensive if I wanted to order them, so I used 20mm instead. Not a big deal for the bracing tubes, just the trans. tunnel is 2mm narrower, but it is not a problem.
Hope this help.
Sylvain

[trick-kit]

ASD Metal services

ASD? :confused: they should have all that in stock, I used to use the Exeter branch for most of my steel, until Dyfeds moved to within 5 miles of my unit.

TK

[baz-r]

if you dont have a bandsaw/cut off tool that can cut accurate angles why not just get a "flat pack" set of pre cut tubes as i did
saves so much time and mess with no misstakes of bits cut too long/short.

[MoysieWRX]

ASD? :confused: they should have all that in stock, I used to use the Exeter branch for most of my steel, until Dyfeds moved to within 5 miles of my unit.

TK

Got a reply back today, what they said now is that they dont hold stock of ERW in their edinburgh branch but will get it from onoe of thir other depots within 3-4 days or order. they provided me a link to their brochures which shows the 19.05mm ERW. I think i may phone tomorrow if i get a chance at work to get a straight answer if they can get the 19.05mm etc for me from their other branch.
As i side note, they said they would give me a discount if i simply create an account with them. Straight off this knocks 25% off delivery cost :cool:

[MoysieWRX]

:D if you dont have a bandsaw/cut off tool that can cut accurate angles why not just get a "flat pack" set of pre cut tubes as i did
saves so much time and mess with no misstakes of bits cut too long/short.

I currently have a mitre cut-off saw that i will try and see how i get on, if not that great for this, gives me an excuse to buy a band saw :D . i think i have a fetish for tools :eek: lol

As for a flat pack chassis kit, i suppose i like the challenge of doing it myself from scratch and don't mind too much the bit extra time it will take to cut up the steel. Just to be clear aswell this decision in no way takes into account the extra cost (which is marginal for all the good hard work the guys put into their great chassis packs and the tools/equipment they have invested in)
My decision i suppose was based on challenging myself and self gratification :D . Well that and gives me an excuse to buy more tools.

[Franksx2005]

Sorry to hijack but what sort of steel am i looking for?

My local stockist says they have 25 mm erw in semi bright steel but not in mild. and also what is black steel?
Thanks

[Talonmotorsport]

you want semi bright erw its much nicer to work with , Hot Rolled Section is known as black because of the layer of scale that is caused by high temp forming.